Integrated Approach to the Development of Solvent Extraction Flow Sheets

The objective of the integrated approach is to minimize the cost and duration of the development of the final flow sheet by optimal allocation of the resources to various steps of the development. In the integrated approach, the development of a solvent extraction (SX) flow sheet is done in the following order: 1) Definition of the process: composition of the feed, specification of the product, minimum yield, etc.; 2) Selection of the solvent(s) and studying its chemical and physical properties; 3) Design of the optimal flow sheet using a computer simulation; and 4) Combination of process definition and the results of both the simulation and the laboratory experiments for every battery yields the right type of equipment. Experimental proof of the recommended flow sheet, in the adequate equipment, follows—first in a bench-scale, and then in a full scale pilot or demonstration plant. Following of these simple rules ensures a successful development of the process.